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Another Devastating Flood in 1857

Two devastating events happened in our area on January 9 – 161 years apart! (Image: pixabay.com)

By Betsy J. Green

January 9, 1857 - Another Devastating Flood

An article in the paper on January 9, 1919 pointed out that this date was the anniversary of “one of the most severe earthquakes in the history of California. This great trembler took place January 9, 1857, according to the historian of that day, ‘the earth did shake.’ The region of the disturbance extended from Point Conception to Los Angeles, and numerous towns were severely damaged.” This earthquake is now called the Fort Tejon earthquake.

But one part of the article reminded me of the devasting debris flow in Montecito that happened 161 years later, on January 9, 2018. Here’s the description of the 1857 quake: “The water in the Mission reservoir was shaken until it slopped out and ran away in a considerable stream. At the Hot Springs, great rocks were loosened from the mountain and cast into the valley.”

Betsy's Way Back When book -- 1918 -- is now available in local bookstores and at Amazon.com. This is the fifth book in her series of the history of Santa Barbara, one year at a time. Learn more at betsyjgreen.com